Effects of Pomegranate Polyphenol Supplementation on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Versus Healthy Controls

Abstract

Pomegranates have significant anti-atherosclerotic, anti-hypertensive, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. We tested the hypothesis that pomegranate polyphenols will not affect fasting blood glucose, insulin, or lipid profile, while decreasing biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in subjects with abdominal adiposity and type 2 diabetes versus healthy controls. Nine healthy controls and 8 subjects with type 2 diabetes were assigned to receive 2 capsules of pomegranate polyphenols (POMx TM , 1 capsule =753 mg polyphenols) daily for 4 weeks. Blood draws and anthropometrics were performed at baseline and at week 4.The POMx TM capsule was well tolerated by all participants and safety parameters remained within normal limits. Pomegranate polyphenol supplementation in healthy controls or type 2 diabetics did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect plasma glucose (85.11 � 4.48 to 85.67 � 8.03 mg/dL, or 105.88 � 29.57 to 114.25 � 33.36 mg/dL, respectively) or total cholesterol (187.89 � 30.16 to 195.56 � 30.5 mg/dL, or 182.13 � 40.47 to 181.50 � 36.73 mg/dL, respectively) or plasma triglycerides (77.11 � 18.43 to 77.56 � 26.88 mg/dL, or 149.75 � 94.73 to 135.63 � 66.06 mg/dL, respectively). Baseline levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the healthy controls at baseline (1.76 � 0.02 �M to 1.06 � 0.26 �M versus 0.96 � 1.02 �M to 1.02 � 0.15 �M, respectively). The diabetic subjects experienced a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in levels of MDA and HNE after supplementation with POMx TM ; however, no significant difference was detected in the healthy controls. At week 4 mean MDA and HNE levels were similar to that of the healthy controls. Significant differences were not observed in oxidized LDL or C-reactive protein in either group. Our findings suggest that POMx TM reduces lipid peroxidation in diabetic subjects, which could be beneficial in reducing risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Larger clinical trials should be conducted to confirm our results.